The bill amends and reenacts several sections of Louisiana law to strengthen the authority and responsibilities of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and related entities concerning background checks for individuals involved in gaming activities. It introduces provisions that enable the Louisiana State Racing Commission and the Louisiana office of charitable gaming to access state and national criminal history records from the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information and the FBI. The bill underscores the significance of public safety in regulating licensing for individuals in the horse racing and charitable gaming sectors, mandating that applicants submit fingerprints for background checks.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the duties of the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information in providing criminal history records to gaming entities and specifies that applicants may be charged for the costs associated with obtaining this information. It ensures that all criminal history data is treated as confidential and used solely for evaluating applicants' eligibility for licenses or permits. The bill also enhances the criminal background investigation process for vendors, retailers, and employees in the gaming industry, requiring the gaming enforcement division to submit applicants' names for thorough checks, including fingerprinting and requests for additional records from the FBI. Additionally, it allows the gaming enforcement division to share criminal history check results with the Louisiana Lottery Corporation, which is tasked with conducting background investigations and ensuring compliance within the gaming industry.

Statutes affected:
SB339 Original: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)
SB339 Engrossed: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)
SB339 Enrolled: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)
SB339 Act 494: 15:587(C), 27:15(B)(1), 47:9065(B)